Sunn Hemp

The useful marvel from the tropics! This fast grower can reach up to 1.5 m in height! In the (sub)tropics, the plant is used as green manure, weed suppressor, and nematode controller. In the summer months, most of these useful properties also apply to your garden: the strongly growing root system gives many weeds no chance, and many types of nematodes are killed deep in the soil. In the tropics, the plant is able to fix nitrogen from the air and store it in root nodules. This nitrogen is released when the plant is mown and/or dug under; most nitrogen is present when the plant is just beginning to flower. In our environment, the soil bacteria needed to form root nodules do not yet seem to be present, but what is not, can still come! After 60 cm of growth, the plant starts to branch, with abundant yellow flowers appearing mainly in the upper part of the plant: yellow butterfly-like flowers with high ornamental value! In India and Pakistan, this crop is also grown for the fiber and paper industries.

To prevent depleting your valuable soil, it is wise to let the ground lie fallow occasionally. During such a period, green manuring is ideal: it introduces nutrients into the soil through often present nitrogen fixation; it suppresses weed growth, promotes bacterial life, provides humus, and in some cases, works against harmful nematodes.

Names:
Latin: Crotalaria juncea
Dutch: Bengal Hemp
English: Sunn Hemp